1 Samuel 4:1-11 (CLICK HERE FOR BIBLE VERSES)
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is 1 Samuel 4:1-11. As usual, I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help, then read the GAME sharing below. Let’s go!
1 Samuel 4:1 (NIV)
1 And Samuel’s word came to all Israel. Now the Israelites went out to fight against the Philistines. The Israelites camped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines at Aphek.
On verse 1: Here’s some background for you. The Philistines were Israel’s most prominent adversaries during the time of Judges and 1 Samuel. During this time, there was ongoing conflict between the Philistines and Israel, including a period of 40 years when the Philistines occupied Israel and subjected the Israelites to oppression and servitude (Judges 13:1).
1 Samuel 4:2-4 (NIV)
2 The Philistines deployed their forces to meet Israel, and as the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand of them on the battlefield.
3 When the soldiers returned to camp, the elders of Israel asked, “Why did the LORD bring defeat upon us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the LORD’s covenant from Shiloh, so that it may go with us and save us from the hand of our enemies.”
4 So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the LORD Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim. And Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.
On verses 2-4: After suffering a great defeat at the hands of the Philistines (v2), the Israelites decided to bring out the ark of the covenant. The ark of the covenant was a gold-plated box that contained the tablets on which the Ten Commandments were written. It also contained a jar of manna collected during Israel’s wanderings in the wilderness as well as the almond clustered rod that Aaron the first high priest used. The ark was kept in the Most Holy Place of the tabernacle and only the high priest was allowed to go in and approach it. The ark represented the presence of God.
The Israelites thought that if they brought the ark of the covenant with them to battle, this in and of itself would gain them victory over the Philistines. For example, in verse 3 they said, “Let us bring the ark of the LORD’s covenant from Shiloh, so that it may go with us and save us from the hand of our enemies.” (v3) That is why when the ark of the covenant came into the Israelite camp, the Israelites shouted so loud that the ground shook (v5). But this was pure superstition.
Notice that other than bringing out the ark (which God did not tell them to do in the first place), there is no evidence that the Israelites repented, prayed, listened for God’s guidance, or trained harder. They did not consult a godly leader like Samuel (although they did enlist the help of Eli’s sons, who did not know any better). Instead, they just thought, “the box will save us”.
What can we learn from this? The Israelites simply thought: “The box will save us.” This was superstitious, childish thinking. It’s like someone who fails a mid-term exam and as they get ready to write the final, you ask them, “Did you look at what mistakes you made last time so you don’t repeat them?” “No.” “Did you study harder this time?” “No.” “Did you prepare differently?” “Did you ask the teacher for help?” “No, but I’ve got this cross around my neck and therefore I will survive the exam!”
But that’s not how the power of God works. God wants us to place our faith in Him, not in a box.
How do you know if you’ve put your faith in the box? It’s when you think your success depends more on a person, a plan, or a program than on God Himself. It’s when you say, “As long as I have X, then I’ll be happy and successful” (X being something other than God).
When we put our faith in a box, we limit God’s ability to work in our lives and are only asking for defeat. Don’t put your faith in a box. Instead, put your faith in God Himself.
1 Samuel 4:5-10 (NIV)
5 When the ark of the LORD’s covenant came into the camp, all Israel raised such a great shout that the ground shook.
6 Hearing the uproar, the Philistines asked, “What’s all this shouting in the Hebrew camp?” When they learned that the ark of the LORD had come into the camp,
7 the Philistines were afraid. “A god has come into the camp,” they said. “We’re in trouble! Nothing like this has happened before.
8 Woe to us! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? They are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the desert.
9 Be strong, Philistines! Be men, or you will be subject to the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Be men, and fight!”
On verses 5-10a: When the Philistines heard the Israelites shouting as the ark was entering their camp, they were deathly afraid (v7-8), even thinking that the Israelites’ “gods” were coming for them. Yet what impresses about the Philistines is that they didn’t stay afraid. Rather their fear quickly turned into determined resolve to find a way to defeat the Israelites anyway. And win, they did.
Likewise, when you hear scary news, your first instinct made be to panic in fear. But just don’t stay afraid. With the help of God, respond to the news with a determination not to be defeated by what you fear, and find a way to win.
1 Samuel 4:10-11 (NIV)
10 So the Philistines fought, and the Israelites were defeated and every man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great; Israel lost thirty thousand foot soldiers.
11 The ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died.
On verses 10-11: Because the Philistines fought hard and the Israelites placed their faith in a box rather than in God Himself, the Israelites suffered an even greater defeat the second time around. The Israelites lose 30,000 men (v10), Eli’s sons the priests are killed just as it was prophesied earlier (1 Samuel 2:34), and even the ark of the covenant itself was captured (v11).
Heavenly Father, please forgive me for all the times when I’ve place my faith in a box. May I trust and hope be in You alone and not give in to fear. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
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